#2: Sidebar Images

If you are not taking advantage of the sidebar of your blog and putting it to good use, it’s time you do. You are missing out on opportunities to grow your email list and show off products or services that you offer from your blog.

With the right mix of calls to actions and images, you can turn your blog’s sidebar into a little mini marketing and promotional area.

I used Canva to design images for my blog’s sidebar and added calls to action to them that direct my blog visitors to take action in some way.

YCG Sidebar Image Designs Created with Canva

#3: Product Cover Templates

I sell a few workbooks from my blog. I struggled at first to come up with a vibe and some branding for the look and feel I wanted to use for the workbook covers.

I was going to enlist the services of a designer from Fiverr.com to design the workbook covers for me. But..here again, I didn’t want to have to do this every time I needed my workbook covers designed.

Sooo, I used Canva to design them. With Canva, I created templates for the covers which makes it easy for me to create new ones in minutes!

#4: To Design Custom Email Newsletter Headers

I’m gonna assume that you have an email newsletter that you run from your blog?? Well, one thing that I discovered that you can do with Canva for Work is create email newsletter headers!

Yayyy for this right?

Most email headers use a 600X 200 or so header image or so. To create a custom email newsletter header all you need to do is use the “Custom Dimensions” feature in Canva for work, add some text to your email header then download it.

Email Newsletter Header Created in Canva

After you’ve done that, then you just need to add the image to the header of your email newsletter.

#5: To Create a Flipagram

Flipagramis a program that let’s you make animated photo stories. Now, I had never heard of this tool until I got introduced to it from Shannon ofImShannon.com. I have to give her credit for showing me how to use this bad boy.

Here’s an example of a Flipagram that I created with Canva for the launch of my Blog Like a CHAMP program.

I basicallyjust used an 800X800 image template from Canva, added some text to the images, then uploaded to Flipagram to create a photo video story.

This is a pretty savvy solution for marketing courses, upcoming launches and more!

#6: Content Upgrades and Opt-In Incentives

For some of the blog posts that I add to this blog, I try to add a special email opt-in associated with a specific blog posts to grow my email list.

This is what’s called a “content upgrade”. These opt-ins are placed “inside” of your blog posts.

Worksheet Designed with Canva for Work as a Content Upgrade

So for example, if you write a blog post on “How to Brand Your Social Media Accounts”, you can create a checklist as a content upgrade that people can download to help them brand their social media accounts.

The great thing about designing content upgrades is that it doesn’t have to take you all day to create them– especially if you are using Canva!

#7: Blog Post Image Template

I don’t like to assume that everyone knows this. But…in case you don’t one of the main images every blogger should have is a standard blog post image.

I am all about proficiency with running my business. I don’t want to have to create a new blog post image every time I write a blog post.

So what did I do?

I.Created.A.Template 🙂

If you don’t have a blog post image template for your blog yet, it’s time to get one created.

To do this in Canva, you need to figure out what size of a template you want to use. Next, select the template that you want to use and what you are optimizing your blog for.

If you are optimizing your blog for Pinterest, then you should use the “Pinterest” size graphic for your blog post template. If you are not, then you can get away with using the “Blog Title” image in Canva.

The big thing is to make sure that your blog post template has the same look and feel for all of the blog content that you publish.

This helps with brand consistency and makes it easier to create your images every time you publish a new post.

Instead of designing a blog post image from scratch every time you publish a new post, you can just use the template that you have created in Canva.

Is your Blog and Brand Designed to Attract the Audience you Want?

The blogosphere is busy. As a digital marketer, One of the BEST decisions that I made was to design my blog and brand to stand out.

I didn’t want to get lost in the shuffle with the millions of blogs out there and I don’t want you to either.

That’s why I created Lights Canva Action. Lights Canva Action is a self-guided course designed for bloggers, business owners and course creators that want to learn how to use Canva to design images and digital marketing assets with confidence.

With Lights Canva Action, you don’t need any special design skills or have to spend hours using complicated design software either.

Within a matter of minutes, you will be well on your way to designing “stunning” graphics for your brand.

Kim

Kim, YourChicGeek is a tech savvy diva + founder of YourChicGeek.com. She is passionate about teaching small biz's how to go from unnoticed to unstoppable online using tech and digital marketing. Kim has created several online courses and DIY trainings in the Blazing Branding Academy that help small businesses flourish online. You can contact Kim to hop on a quick 15 minute call to chat about your digital marketing goals.

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Hello there! I am Kim George, YourChicGeek and I'm here to help you go from Unnoticed to Unstoppable on the web with make TECH and digital marketing. Let's Get To It!